Shorthand typewriting machine



May 7, b1946.

J. L. SWEENEY SHORTHAND TYPEWRITING MACHINE l.Filed March 5, 1941 8 .Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO RNE J. L.. SWEENEY SHORTHAND TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed March 5,` 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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INVENTOR l. .di ATTORN Y May 7,1946. J. l. swEENIEY 25399769 9 SHORTHND TYPEWRITING MACHINEl Filed uarch 5. l1941 e sheets-sheet s sTxPw' HEAO' '-I-"luFle-'Ps Tsos PWL'T D B e SCSI vwd# A'rToR Patented May 7, 1946 UNITEDV STATES PATENT 2,399,769 v A t oFFlc-E y sHoR'rHANn TYPEWRITI'NG MACHINE Joseph Lee Sweeney, Jackson Heights, N. Y. Application MarchS, 19d-i1, Serial No. 381,774

lv7 claims.

This invention relates to shorthand typewriting machines by means of whichs'yllables or words may berepresented on successive lines on a paper strip by one or more type characters printed simultaneously on each line.

In shorthand typewriting machines which -are now in general use, as forv instance the stenotype machine, lthere is provided'a plurality ofl keys representing consonantal characters arranged in a double row across, the keyboard to bev operated by the ilngers of both hands and a plurality of keys at the front of the keyboard representing vowel characters to be operated by the thumbs. All of the consonantal characters are not included, certain ones being represented .by combinations of certain others in accordance with the code used. A shift key is provided to shift the type bars so that numerals may be printed when this shift key is operated with certain of the consonantal keys. There is no means to differentiate between variations of vowel sounds. the transcriber depending on the context of the subject matter. (and his memory, if he also did the recording) to reproduce the proper word. v

There are many variations of vowel sounds in the English language which, if they were all to be recorded, would require a complicated key-1- board arrangement. Since it is desirable to operate the vowel keys with the thumbs, and an operatorhas only two thumbs, complication oi the vowel keys would greatly reduce the speed of operation. It is for this reason that machines now used for shorthand recording have only four of the ordinary vowel characters which, in the stenotype machine, are lA, 0, E," and U arranged to print inthe order given. With these four vowels, double is represented by striking A and O together and 1" is represented by striking E and U together.

Certain words in the Englishlanguage are'pronounced alike but have diierent spellings and meanings, such as pear, pairf and para In any shorthand system, such words are recordedalike and can be differentiated only by the context of the subject matter. But there are many hundreds of pairs of words -which have diierent meanings and spellings and which are not pronounced alike but which are printed on the stenotype machine exactly the same. For example, hat" and hate are recorded HAT; head and heed are recorded as H ED; rob and "robe are recorded as l'tOB; strip andV stripe are recorded `as S'I'REUP (EU for I); a cut" and acute are recorded in two strokes as A KUT (on two diierent lines); tub and tube are recorded as TUB; sell and seal are recorded SEL. The words just quoted, while they can be distinguished by the context, give rise to inconvenience and delay in transcribing the printed notesbecause the transcriber must stop and think whenever one is encountered. I term such words minor conflicts. There are, however, many 'words which I class as major conflicts, because the context may not indicate at all which of the twowrds ismeant, making the accuracyof the transcribed material .entirely dependent on the guess of the transcriber, or on his memory if he also did the recording. Such words are, for example, "bit and bite which would be printed BIT; "ball and bale which would be'printed BAL; best" and beast which would be printed BEST; cap and cape which would be printed KAP; lick" and like which would be printed LIK.

Also, there are many combinations of words and prefixes which conflict because no method is provided to distinguish between the two sounds of the same vowel in dinerent words. the prexfnon" and the word known would be printed wthe same. Non-abstainer cannot therefore be distinguished from known abstainer; non-believer from known believer; nonconductor` from "known conductor, etc. When itis realized that the words in these pairs have substantially opposite meanings, the difficulty of making an accurate transcript will be appreciated.

The necessity for using the context to determine certain vowel variations is a serious drawback to speed in transcribing notes recorded on the paper strip of the shorthand machine, as it requires the transcriber to hesitate and think before typing the word, and, as hasv been pointed out above, in some instances, it is impossible to type the proper word unless the memory of the operator is sumcient to supply -the correct vowel sound and the operator is also transcribing.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide a shorthand typewriting machine For instance,

Another object of the invention is to provide a shorthand typewriting machine with means to diiferentiate long vowel sounds from other vowel sounds. f

A further object of the invention is to provide a shorthand typewriting machine as defined in the above paragraph with a keyboard so slightly.

differing from the standard keyboard as to permit a skilled operator to learn to use it in a few minutes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shorthand typewriting machine on which vowel sounds may be differentiated without in any way modifying the operation of the consonantal keys and associated mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple means for producing certain vowel distinctions which may be incorporated in a standard shorthand typewriting machine by minor changes in the mechanism without altering the general construction or operation of the machine.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction. combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exempliiled in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding vof the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a shorthand typewriting machine embodying one form of the invention and showing the casing removed and parts of the frame broken away to better disclose the mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1, with certain parts broken away showing the strip feeding device and the shift mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the same machine taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a shorthand typewriting machine similar to the machine of Fig. l illustrating a modified form of the invention;

l Fig. 5 is a plan view of a shorthand typewriting machine illustrating another modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a shorthand typewriting machine showing a still further modified form of the invention;

Fig. 'l is a side elevational view of the machine of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevational view of the same machine taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 9 and 10 area side view and sectional view respectively of a yielding connection in the shift mechanism of the machine, the section of Fig. 10 being taken on the line lil- I0 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a single case machine incorporating the invention.

The present invention is based on my discov ery that the only serious conflict between words oi the mglish language with respect to variations in vowel sounds comes between the long vowel sound on the one hand and some other sound variation of the same vewel on the other. For instance, "ri-le and ellfz ate" and at; stripe and scslnpu; guten .Gutrl; uba-tel# wd ub'sr; "soak and sock; and many other words, es

as recorded on the standard shorthand machine except by the context of the subject matter, and certain other words cannot always be distinguised even when the subject matter is known. If, however, a means is provided to identity the long vowel sounds in words as they are recorded, it then becomes easy to avert any misreading; for with only very rare exceptions a long vowel sound occurs in one word of every pair of words now in conflict. A single exception may be noted in the case of the words tongue and tong, in neither of which is a long vowel heard; but here the conflict is quite 'simply resolved in another way by writing TUNG for tongue; TQNG for tong.

In English, a few words that are pronounced alike have different meanings and are usually spelled differently. For example, lead" (metal) and led; red and "read (preterit): bread" and bred, etc. Such words are Written alike in stenotypy and are intended to be distinguishable only .by definition or context. These words are not exceptions to the rule stated in the last paragraph above because in them the vowel sounds are identical, not different; they are correctly recorded alike phonetically because they are correctly pronounced alike in English speech.

I accomplish the objects of the invention, therefore, by providing a simple means for designating on the record strip a long vowel sound whenever it ls desired to record such along vowel and, therefore, the necessity for the rtranscriber to follow the context as he or she types the printhas already been stated, cannot be distinguished 'I5 ed code record in ordinaryV English is entirely eliminated and the speed of reproducing the recorded subject matter is greatly increased. The

recording process is also made easier .because there is less necessity for the operator to concentrate on the subject matter being recorded.

Several means for accomplishing the purposes of the invention have been illustrated in the drawings. Referring now to Figs. l, 2, and 3, a standard stenotype machine is shown with my invention applied thereto. This Amachine comprises a frame I0 at the rear of which is rotatably mounted a platen Il over which a strip of paper l2 is fed, a suitable roller i3 being used to hold the paper against the platen, so that the paper will move through the machine when the platen is rotated. A supply of the paper may be provided in zig-zag folds forming a stack lli housed in a suitable compartment beneath the machine from which the paper may be drawn as the machine operates.

The platen is mounted upon a shaft itl journaled in the frame I0 and is provi-ded at the left end with e. one-way clutch mechanism it op erated by a lever I9 which extends outwardly from the side thereof and which is connected for operation in a manner to be hereinafter described. When the lever I9 is oscillated to oscillate the clutch i6, the platen lI-is caused to rotate intermittently in one direction carrying the paper strip with it.

Also mounted on frame In is a casting 2i! having two side members 2i secured to the frame by screws 22 and a cross member at the top which rigidly eennects the side members, .a comb 2d, suppe-:med between side arms 25:, is plvotally mounted in the casting 20. the arms 5 being piv-I oted to lugs 26 standing up from the side memii. riiiis comb supports in the slots thereof o. plurality of type bars El in such a manner they may slide towards and away from the platen il. An inked ribbon 2e is guided between the ends of the type bars and the platen Il and moves up and down with the type, being arranged on spools 29 to move from one side of the machine to the other, slowly and intermittently, as the machine is operated., l

Each type bar has a primary type 30 and a secondary type 3l; A plate 32 holds the type bars in the comb 24 and limits their motion therein to a single direction with respect to the comb. When, the comb is in its normal position,k as shown in Fig. 3, the upper or primary type 3|l`lwill print, when the type bar is moved towards the platen,

causing .the ribbonftopress. against the paper.=

However. means is provided to shift the comb 24 upwardly about the pivots 25, so that, in this po sition, the lower or secondary type 3| on yeach type bai` will print when the type bar is movedto press -These bars are relatively close together where they are supported on the shaft 40, but are bent just forwardly of the shaft at different angles to fan outwardly, thus providing an extended keyboard. The rear ends of the bars y31 tilt upwardly a short distance beyond the shaft `4I) and terminatef incams 42. Each of these cams bears against the lower arm 43 of one of ay plurality of bell crank levers 44 mounted on a shaft 45 which is supported in the bracket 2li between the two sides 2l. Theupper arm 4B of each of the bell cranklevers 44- is pivotally connected tothe forward end of one of the type bars 21.

When o ne of the keys 35 and 351s depressed, the bar upon which it is mounted is rotated about, the shaft 40 in a clockwise direction, as viewed .in Figs. 2 and 3, thus causing the cam 42 to move upwardly, pushing the arm 43 of the`associated bell crank lever 44. This. causes the upper arm 46 of. the lbell crank lever to move rearwardly-thus pushing the associated type bar towards, the

, platen and carsing the primary'type 30 thereon to press the ribbon 28 against the paper I2.

A channel member` 50 is mounted .on a pair of levers I and 52 which ,are pivoted on the shaft 40 on opposite outer sides of the frame I3. The lever 52 on the left side is extended beyond the shaft V 40, and its extended end' 53 is connected by means end of the lever 55 and the clutch operating arml I9. The link 54 connects the end 53 of thelever 52 with the lever. 55 at a point adjacent the pivot 56 .Whenever any one of 'the keys 35 and 35 is depressed, the correspondingbar 31 depresses the channel 50, thus operating the leve`r 52 and toggle 55 and 51, and moving the clutch mechanism I3 to cause rotation of the platen l' l The arrangement is such that although the platen rotates when the channel member 50 is moved, as described above, the movement of the platen ceases prior to the striking of the type against the ribbon. A spring 58 attached between the 'frame and lower end'` of the toggle lever 51 returns the toggle mechanism to the normal position shown in Fig. 2i

The individual type'bars are calmed to return to their normal position by springs ill, one end y of each of which is attached to the arm'43 of eachbell crank ,leverl44, the other end4 of the 5 spring being attached to a cross member 5I which isconnected between two depending arms 62 0n thesides 2| yof the casting 25. Adjacent springslare staggered to prevent them `irom interfering in operation. l0

to a lug 55 extending out from the comb 24.

tation of the bar 64 about the pivot 55 will cause.

the link 63 to raise the rear end of the comb 24 and the type bar assembly for printing the lower or secondary r0`w of types 3| vprovided on.

the type bars.

Infthe standard stenotype machine, this shift mechanism is operated by a long key which extends clear acrossthe topof the keyboard, sc

that it may be depressed with any one of the keys in the upper row ofjkeys. In order to perform the objects ofthe present invention, I extend the arms 83 and 64 forwardly of the machine, ,around the two rear rows of keys, and connect the forwardendsto an elongated key 1li which extends partially across the front of the keyboard just behind the keys 36, the arrangement being such that any one" of the keys 3 5 may be depressed simultaneously with the elongatedkey 1II which operates the shift mechanism. l

I also provide a long bar key`v 12 :just to the rear of the rear row of keys'35, but instead of nism, as itis in the standard machine, I connect it directly to the operating bar 13 at the center.

which in the standard machine, also, support .the asterisk key. vAnd I then increase the size '5 -of lthe space key 14 so that it occupies the space of two keys from front to back. Y

In the standard stenotype machine, there are va plurality of keys representing" certain conso nants and'four keys representing the vowels A, 5o 0,3 -E," and ,U." All of the consonants in the alphabet are not provided. the machine being used with a'code system in which certain comble' nations of consonants represent certain consonantal sounds, either at the beginning or ending of the word or syllable. Similarly, as has been pointed out above, certain combinations of 'vowels'are used to represent other4 vowel sounds, as, lfor instance, TAO to represent OO4 and EU to represent IP In the present invention, I have used substantially they same consonantal type characters with asimilar arrangement. of keys and also the same arrangement of vowel types and vowel keys.` Thus 'the keys 35 which form a double row at the rear of the keyboard are the consonant keys and the four keys 3l at the front of the keyboard represent the vowels A,' fO, E. and U. Y

The consonant keys 35 preferably providedentirely blank to encourage 70 the operator to learn the operation of the machine by touch,"but in the drawings, I have shown the letters and otherl charactersl printed on the keys to make the drawings more understandable.

'l5y printed above the secondary character.- f

rearmost end is connected by means of a link 63 and vowel keys are l Inl each jcase the 'primary character is shown In the standard stenotype machine, the lower or secondary type on certain type bars is a numeral, these types being arranged so that keys of the rear row of keys may be depressed simultaneously with the shift bar to print the numerals. In order to carry out'my invention, I have removed the numerals from the secondary row of types and replaced them by duplicates of the primary types, except for the vowels A, O," E, and U. The secondary types on the vowel type bars, I have replaced with the same vowels, each with an addition of a `diacritical mark above it, as, for instance, O," and U. I'he entire arrangement of type characters as they would be printed from left toright of the paper is shown immediately above Fig. 1 of the drawings. The upper row represents thev primary characters and the lower row the secondary characters which print when the shift key is depressed.y I

With this arrangement of keys, types, and operating mechanism, the vowels .A, 0, E," and U may be printed by simply depressing the vowel keys 36. If, however, itis desired to record a long vowel sound, the desired vowel key is depressed together with the elongated key 10. The key operates the shift mechanism, as already described, and the secondary type is printed which is the vowel with a diacritical mark above it. If any of the consonant keys are depressed at the same time that the shift mechanism is operated, the consonants which would ordinarily be recorded by the depression of those particular consonant keys, are printed, ecause the lower or secondary type on' each consonant type bar is identical with the primary type.

The bar key 12 is connected by means of the operating bar 13 to a type bar 1i containing an asterisk as a primary type which is duplicated for the secondary type. Therefore, whenever the key 12 is depressed,- an asterisk will be printed regardless of whether the shift mechanism is operated or not. Since I have removed all numerals from the types, I desire to repre- -sent a numeral by depressing one of the keys of the upper row of consonant keys together with the bar key 12 which prints an asterisk. The numeral l would, therefore, be represented by printing an S followed by an asterisk.

the numeral 2 by a T followed by an asterisk, the numeral 3" by a P" followed by an asterisk, the numeral 4 by an H followed by asterisk, the numeral "5 by an F" preceded by an asterisk (because the asterisk prints in the center of the paper strip and the "F" towards the right), the numeral 6" by "P preceded by an' asterisk, the numeral 7" by L `preceded by an asterisk, the numeral 8" by "T" preceded by an asterisk, and the numeral 9 by D preceded by an asterisk.

It will be seen that with the arrangement illustrated in Figs.- 1, 2, and 3, the standard mechanism of the stenotype machine is used with the exception that an additional elongated key 10 is provided just back of the vowel keys which elongated key is connected to the shift mechanism, and the bar key atv the rear is arranged to print the asterisk. Certain minor changes are also made in the type. The. only difference in operation over the standard stenotype machine is that the` numerals are represented by a, consonant followed or preceded by an asterisk. as thecase may be, while the machine has the additional highly desirable advantage that it can differentiate the long vowel sounds from other vowel sounds.

In using the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the operator,

yskilled in the use of a standard stenotype machine, is confronted with substantially the same keyboard with,the exception of the elongated key just to the rear of the vowel keys. He or she need only remember that numerals are represented by the upper row of the consonantal keys recorded simultaneously with an asterisk and that the long vowel sounds may be recorded by simply moving the thumbs slightly towards the rear of the machine s0 that they can strike both vowel key and the elongated key.

In Fig. 4, I have shown my invention applied to a standard stenotype machine in a. somewhat modied form. In this figure, the various parts of the machine, with the exception of the keyboard and certain of the operating parts connected thereto, are the same as those shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and carry the same reference characters. However, the bar key 80 which corresponds to the bar key 12 of Fig. 1, is now arranged to operate the shift mechanism. For this purpose. operating bars 8| and 82, similar to bars 63 and 64 of Fig. 1, are mounted on the pivots 65 and 66 respectively, operating bar 82 being extended to the rearv and connected to the shift mechanism. The Ikey 83, which corresponds .to the asterisk key in the standard machine, is mounted on the operating bar 84 which is extended forwardly of the machine and has mounted on the forward end thereof a cross bar 86 which extends across in back of the vowel keys and carries a plurality of small keys 86, one for each of the vowel keys.

The type bars 81 in this instance are provided with two types, the primary and secondary rows being indicated above Fig. 4. In this case, the numerals appear on the secondary row of types and are produced when the type bar assembly is shifted by depressing the bar key 80 and certain of the upper row of consonantal keys are simultaneously depressed with it. This is true with the exception. of the numeral 5 which is recorded by depressing the A" key simultaneously with the shift key 80. The type bar 88 which is connected tov the asterisk key and also to the elongated bar 85 carries the asterisk as the secondary type, while the primary type is a dash, as shown in the representation o f the types above the Fig. 4, which is used to represent a diacritical mark to indicate that a particular vowel has a long sound.

In using this particular form of the invention, the operator will operate the consonant keys in l a normal manner, and when wishing to record numerals, will depress one of the keys in the upper row together with the shift key 80, or in the case of the numeral 5, the A key with the shift key 80. However, when it is desired to indicate that the vowel lsound is long, he or she will depress the desired vowel key together with theismall key in back of it, whereupon the diacritical mark, which is the primary type on the type bar 88, will be printed. Thus long A" will be represented by A followed by a dash, long O by 0" followed by a dash, long E" by E preceded by a dash, long U" by U" preceded by a dash, and long I" by Eu pre-v ceded by a dash.

When it is desired to print an asterisk, the asterisk key 83 is depressed (which also depresses the small keys 85) and the shift key 80 is depressed simultaneously with it which shifts the type bar` assembly so that the secondary type on the type bar 88,*which is the asterisk, `will be printed. Y if i In changingV a standard stenotype machine to perform the function of my invention in accordance with this particular form, I have only to change the primary type on the type bar 08 and add the keys 86 which are connected to the key 83. Of course, `a single elongated key, similar to the key of Fig. 1,'may be used in place of the keys 86. V K

In Fig. 5, I have shown a somewhat different arrangement of the operating mechanism of the machine to accomplish the purpose of the invention. In this arrangement, the type bars are dividedinto two type bar assemblies which shift independently. One of these yassemblies includes all of the consonantal types, while 4the other one includes the vowel types and the asterisk type.

A bracket 90 is provided, which is similar` to the casting 20 of Fig. i, for supporting the two type bar assemblies. This bracket has side bearings 9| and 92 for pivotally mounting the comb 93 which is v.provided with side members 84 and 95 for making the pivotal attachment, while the cross member 98, which forms part of the bracket 90 also carries two bearings 90 and |00 for supporting a smaller independent comb 0| which carries the other type bar assembly. The comb 93 is oifset downwardly at the center by a U.-` shaped member |02, so that the two side sections of the comb Vwill be rigidly connected to eac'h other, but the whole assembly can move independently of the other type bar assembly, represented by the comb |0|. The comb 0| has side extensions |04 and |05, the forward ends of which are pivoted to the bearings 99 and |00.

Plates |00 and |01 are provided on top of the comb 93 and hold the type bars carried thereby in position, while another plate, (not shown), is provided to hold the type bars in position in the comb |0I.

The comb 93 may be rotated about its pivots by means of an arm |08 which extends out at the right side thereof and which is connected by means of the 'link |09 to the extended end of the shift lever 82. On the forward end of the latter is mounted the shift key 80, which is similar to that shown in Fig, 4. The other end of the shift key 80 is supported upon an operatingarm 8|. By depressing the shift key 80, the arm 82 will rotate about the pivot 86, thus raising the link |09 and the comb 93 to raise the type bars carried by that comb into position for printing thesecondary row of types. At the same time this movement will be entirely independent of the combV |0| and its type barabecause of the oil'set connector |02 which connects the two sides oi' the comb 83.

The comb I 0| has an ear -||2 which extends downwardly from the bottom thereof and to which is pivotally connected a link ||3 which in turn pivotally connects to the extended endot an operating bar ||4, similar to the bars 31 all of which are pivoted on the shaft 40. The forward end oi' the bar ||4 is provided with an elongated key ||0 which is positioned just to the rear of the vowel keys 38. By depressing the elongated key ||8, the operating bar ||4 is rocked The arrangement of types on the type bars is indicated `above Fig. 5. 'I'he type barscarrying the vowels have the .letters .A, 0, E, and

U carried as primary types, while these same bars carry respectively the designations and U" as secondary types. l, The type bar ||1, carrying the asterisk, which is connected to the asterisk key |`|8, carries the asterisk character for both primary and secondary types, so that the asterisk will be printed regardless of whether the vowelv type bar assembly is shifted or not.

With this arrangement, the consonant keys of the machine 'are operated the same as for the standard machine, the shift key 80 being 4used simultaneously with certain of the consonantal keys to produce numerals, as will be evident from is entirely independent of the consonant shift mechanism and can be used regardless of whether or not the latter is operated.

It will be noted that the arrangement just described and shown in Fig. 5 requires somewhat of an alteration of the mechanism, although the keyboard has the same general appearance as that of the preceding embodiments of the invention and operates in substantially the same way.

In Fig. 6 still another embodiment of the invention is shown with a double shift mechanism. In this arrangement the frame, platen, strip feeding mechanism, and keyboard are substantially the same as those described in connection with the other gures. However, the bracket 20 supports a comb |20 which is pivoted on the bearings 26 to rotate down, as well as up,iwith respect to its normal position, as shown in Figs. `6, 7, and 8. The type bars |22 supported in the comb |20 carry three types, each bar having primary, secondary, and tertiary types as indicated above in Fig. 6. l

An elongated key |24 positioned just to the rear of the rearmost row of consonant keys 35 is operatively associated with the comb |20 so as to shift it toits upper or tertiary position when the key |24 is depressed. To this end the left end of the key is mounted on the bar |25 which is pivoted at |28 on the frame |0 of the machine. The right end of the key |24 is mounted on an operating bar |21 which is pivoted at |28 to the right side of the frame |0.. The bar |21 4eirtends beyond the pivot |28 and has an uping the type bars |22.

about the shaft 40 to raise the link ||3 and comb |0| so that the type bars carried by the latter are caused to assume their upper position for printing the-secondary types carried by the type bars.

The connection between the link |30 and the arm |22 is made yielding to permit the type bar assembly to be lowered without lowering the link |30, and to this endthe arm |32 is provided with an up-turned lug |34 at its outer end which is pivotally connected to 'a splitblock |35. The block |35 is made in two parts with one part having a central portion of reduced cross section so as to fit within a slot |36 provided in the upper end of the link |30. The arrangement is such that the block |35 is slidable within the slot but is prevented from falling out by enlarged portions on leach side of the link |30.

, The block |35 is also provided with a central lowered against the tension' of the spring |33 without moving the link |30.

The elongated key |42 which is positioned just to the rear of the vowel keys 36 at the forward end of the keyboard is used to control the downwardshift of the comb |20 and type bar assembly. To this end the key |42 is mounted on an operating bar |44 which extends beneath the shaft 40 and terminates at a shaft |46 mounted in the frame in line with the pivots |26 and |26. The bar |44 is fixed to the shaft |46, so as to cause it to rotate when the key |42 is depressed. A bell crank |46 is also mounted on the shaft |46 adjacent the right side of the machine and is fixed to the shaft by suitable means so that it rotates with it. The forward end |60 of the bell crank |46 is urged upwardly by a spring which is attached to a portion of the frame |0. The rearward end |52 of the bell crank |46 is pivotally connected to one end of of the comb'|20.

' When the elongated key |42 is depressed, the shaft |46 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 which rotates the bell crank |46 in the same direction and, therefore, raises the end |52 of the bell crank. This rotates the lever |53 in a counter clockwise direction about its pivot |54, thus pulling the link |56 downwardly to lower the type bar assembly carried by the comb |20.

In order to lower the type bar assembly, the tendency will be for the operating bar |21 to be rotatedin a counterclockwise direction about the pivot |26 to raise the shift key |24. However,

The middle row of characters represented above Fig. 6 are those which are normally printed when the keys are depressed without depressing either of the shift keys |24 or |42. The upper row of characters print when all of 'the keys are depressed tolether with the shift key |42. It will be noted that the types on this upper row are similar to those of the'second row with the exception that each of the 'vowel characters A, 0. E. and U has a dash above it. The lower row of type characters are those which are printed when the rear-most shift key |24 is depressed with the other keys, and this row contains the numerals similar to some of the modifications already described. The numerals are, therefore, printed by depressing the upper row of the consonant keys .together with the rear shift key |24.

In using the embodiment of the machine as shown in Figs. 6, 1, 8, 9, and 10, the operator will print the consonants in the ordinary manner, using the rear-most .shift key |24 to obtain numerals, as in forms already described. When it is desired to print a long vowel sound, the shift key |42 is depressed simultaneously with one or more of the vowel keys. It will thus be seen that the machine, as far as the keyboard is concerned, operates in the same manner as the embodiments of Fils. 4 and 5, although in this particular case, the whole type bar assembly shifts upward to print numerals and downward to print the long vowel sounds.

I 'Ihe embodiments of the invention described in connection with Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive involve the use of a double case typewriting machine with shift means to change the type from one set to another. In Fig. 11, I have shown another modincation of the invention which uses the single case machine with no shifting mechanism. This 40 machine comprises a comb |60 which is fixed in all of the keys are prevented from being raised v by the cushioned stop |56 which is provided for this purpose and, therefore, the type bar assembly can only be lowered by compressing the spring |36 and permitting the block |35 to move downwardly in link |30 without moving the link. Movement of the type bar assembly downwardly, therefore, is against the tension of the spring |36 in addition to the spring |5| against the tension of which the bell crank |46 operates.' However, the operating bar |44 carrying the shift key |42 is longer than the operating bars |25 and |21 carrying the shift key |24, so that there is enough additional leverage to overcome the additional spring tension and the two shift keys may o'er substantially the same resistance to pressure.

the frame I0 of the machine and which carries a plurality of type bars |6I, arranged to move in the comb towards and away from the platen. The type bars are controlled by two rows of consonant keys -35 and four vowel keys 36 which are mounted on the operating bars, not shown in this figure, but similar to the bars 31 shown in the previous figures.

An elongated key |62 is operatively connected with the type bar |63 carrying an asterisk, and this key extends across the rear of the keyboard so that it may be depressed with any of the consonant keys in the rear row. An elongated key |65 mounted just to the rear of the vowel keys 36 and long enough to be depressed simultaneously with any of these keys is operatively connected to a type bar |66 which carries the dash for the diacritical mark. A double key |61 at the center of the keyboard merely operates as a spacer and is not connected to any type bars.

The operation of this single case machine will be evident. The consonant keys are operated in the same manner as those of the other forms of the invention and numerals are designated by using the asterisk key |62 simultaneously with the keys of the rear row as in the case of the construction of Fig. 1. Ifit is desired to designate a long vowel sound, the desired vowel key is depressed together with the key |65 which produces the dash or diacritical mark together with the vowel.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided a simple means in a shorthand typewriting machine to distinguish long vowel sounds from other vowel solmds. Although I have shown several different arrangements for accomplishing this result, it will be noted that all" of these ar rangements operate substantially the same so far as the keyboard is concerned. There are the same number of keys and the only difierence overthe standard stenotype machine in general use is that an 'elongated key is provided just back yof the vowel keys which when pressed simultaneously with one of the vowel keys produces the long designation on the record strip.

As an'example of the advantage obtained by my new arrangement, the following list olf-words is given. In the first two columns, pairs oi' words are given which would normally conilict. The

third column shows the way b oth of these words.

would be recorded on a standard stenotype machine with respect to the vowel sound. The cons onants-ior correct spelling have been given for clarity, although it will be understood that someof the consonants are printed on the machine in code symbols. The fourth column shows the way the second word of each pair would be recorded with my new invention as to vowelsounds, it being understood that with certain forms of my invention the diacritical mark shown above the letter would be at one side or the other, but in any case, it would be on the same printed line. L

There are an extremely large number of words of this nature and the above have been given merely to illustrate the ease with which my present invention permits 4the operator of a shorthand typewriting machine to distinguish between these oonilicting words. It will be evident that a great deal of time will be saved in transcribing the recorded sounds since the transcriber can tell instantly fromv the notes whichword is meant without having to stop and study the context. Since these are words which occur constantly in the course of any use of the English language, it will be seen that the speed of transcription will be greatly increased by the use of my invention.

It will be evident that certain forms of my invention are particularly applicable to the standard machines now on the market, so that such a machine can easily be altered to accomplish the purpose of the invention at -little expense and without any substantial change in the 4actua operation.

While in each of the forms of the invention illustrated, I have shown a dash to be used with the vowel to indicate the long vowel sounds, it is to be understood that any character might be used to designate the long vowel as long as such character is different from the vowel itself and its use would not cause confusion. 'I'he applied diacritical mark shown isperhaps preferable,v

being the one usually used for this purpose in phonetic spelling.

when that key is depressed with any of the vowel keys, while in Fig. 4, I have shown that key broken up into four small units which are all mounted on the-same operating bar and operate together regardless of which one is depressed. It will be --understood that any of the elongated keys mentioned, including the one at the rear of the-keyboard, might also be broken up in a similar mannerto either improve the appearance or the operation of the machine. Any manner of dening one of these elongated keys in the claims is intended, therefore, to cover both of these arrangements.

l'I'hegoperation of the keyboard is so similar to that of the standard machine in any of themodiflcations'sho'wn that an operator can operate a machine' equipped with my invention almost at once with substantially no practice.4 The invention, therefore, not only .adds an extremely desirable feature` to a shorthand typewriting machine but does it in such a way that an operator skilled in the-use of the machinesheretofore available will be able to use the invention Iwithout any diiliculty.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention c'ould be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. l

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and speciiic features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

said elongated key with any one of said vowel keys by a single iinger, means to print a vowel character when the key representingy that vowel In Figs. 1, 5, 6, and l1, I have shown an elongated key for producing the diacritical mark is depressed, and means including part `of said last mentioned means to print a different representation ofsaid vowel character when said elongated key is depressed simultaneously with said vowel key without modifying the printing caused bythe action of saidiirst mentioned keys which are notvowel keys, whereby a distinction between a long vowel.' sound and another sound of. the same vowel may be made.

' 2.- In a shorthand typewriting machine,.a plurality of types for printing vowel representations, keys associated with 'said types to cause said types to print, an elongated key positioned so as to be operated 'simultaneously with any one of said vowel keys by a single linger, means to print one of said types when one of said vowel keys is depressed alone, and means including part of said `last'mentioned means to print a different vowel representation when said last mentioned vowel key is depressed simultaneously with said elongated'key, whereby long vowels may be distinguished from other vowel sounds.

3. In a shorthand typewriting machine,` a plurality of keys representing consonantal characters arranged in rows, a plurality of keys'representing vowel characters arranged in a row, and

an additional key, type bars associated with said keys and mounted to be operated simultaneously by said keys, the type bars associated with said consonantly keys each having a type representing a consonantal character thereon,` the type bars associated with said vowel keys, each having a type representing a vowel character thereon, and the type bar associated with said additional key having a type representing a diacritical mark thereon, said additional key being elongated and positioned adjacent said row of vowel keys so as to permit depression of said additional key simultaneously with any one of said vowel keys, whereby when one of said vowel keys is depressed without said additional key, an ordinary vowel character will be printed, and when said same vowel key is depressed simultaneously with said additional key, said ordinary vowel character will be printed together with said diacritical mark, a shift key mounted adjacent one of said rows of consonantal keys, means operatively associated with said shift key to change the position of said type bars when said shift key is depressed, each of said type bars having another type thereon which is adapted to print when the key associated with the type bar is depressed together with said shift key, certain of the typebars connected to said consonantal keys adjacent said shift key having types representing one consonant and one numeral, said type bar associated with said additional key having a type representing an additional character which is adapted to print when said additional key is depressed simultaneously with said shift key.

4. In a shorthand typewriting machine,-a plurality of keys representing consonantal characters, a plurality of keys representing vowel characters, a plurality of type bars operatively associated with said consonantal keys, means to mount said type bars to permit simultaneous operation thereof when said consonantal keys are simultaneously depressed, a plurality of type bars operatively associated with said vowel keys, means to mount said last mentioned type bars so as to permit simultaneous operation thereof when said vowel assenso without said second shift key, a vowel character will be printed, and when said same key is depressed simultaneously with said second shift key, a diierent representation of the same vowel character will be printed, the operation of the vowel keys and type bars being entirely independent of the operation of the consonantal keys and type bars.

5. In a shorthand typewriting machine having a keyboard on which the depressible keys are so arranged that those used for printing the consonants are intended to be struck with the fingers and those used-for printing the vowels with the thumbs, the said vowel keys being near the middle of the keyboard and in front of the consonant keys, the improvement comprising an additional key so shaped and so positioned that it may be struck with a thumb in conjunction with any one or more of the said vowel keys, thereby causing an additional character to be printed with the said vowel or vowels to indicate the long sound thereof.

6. In a shorthand typewriting machine having a keyboard on which the depressible letter keys are so arranged that those used for printing the consonants are intended to be struck with the nge and those used for printing the vowels keys are simultaneously depressed,`a rst shift key positioned adjacent said consonantal keys, means operatively associated with said first shift key to change the position of said consonantal type bars when said first shift key is depressed, a second shift key positioned adjacent said vowel keys, means operatively associated with said second shift key to change the position of said vowel type barsI when said second shift key is depressed. a. pair of types on each of said consonantal type bars, each of said types representing atleast one consonantal character, a pair of types on each of said vowel type bars representing an ordinary vowel character and the same vowel character diiferentiated to represent the long vowel sound,y

with the thumbs, the said vowel keys being near the middle of the keyboard and in front of the consonant keys, the improvement comprising an additional key so shaped and positioned that it may be struck with a thumb together with any one or more of the said vowel keys, thereby causing to be printed an additional character in conjunction with any one or more of the said vowel `or vowels to indicate the long sound thereof, the

action of this additional key having no eiIect upon the printing of any of the consonant keys.

7. In a shorthand typewriting machine of the kind having a plurality of consonant printing types, keys operatively connected to said types for actuatingthe same, vowel printing types, keys operatively connected to the vowel printing types for actuating them, and in which said keys form an elongated keyboard, with the keys so arranged that the consonant keys are intended to be struck by the fingers, and the vowel keys by the thumbs, the vowel keys being near the middle of the keyboard. in front of the consonant keys, the improvement comprising additional key means common to the vowel keys and arranged adjacent those keys, said key means being so positioned and of such shape that it may be struck by a thumb together with any one or more of said vowel keys, and means operatively connected to said additional key means for printing a. long vowel indication whenever said key means is struck simultaneously with any one of said vowel representing keys.

` JOSEPH LEE SWEENEY. 

